Some manufacturers of computer software have proposed cutting costs by distributing instruction manuals for their programs on computer disk only, so that computer users can refer to them on a computer screen rather than having to deal with unwieldy printed manuals that are costly for manufacturers to produce.

Which of the following, if true, provides the best reason against adopting the proposal described above?

(A) Most computer users are just as comfortable using instructions on a computer screen as they are using printed manuals.
(B) Although instructions on a computer disk can be printed out cheaply using a computer printer, such printouts are less convenient to use than instructions displayed on a computer screen.
(C) Because they are expensive and inconvenient to copy, printed instruction manuals provide one of the best deterrents against the illegal copying of software, which costs manufacturers enormous profits.
(D) Instructions supplied on a computer disk are more appropriate for business and educational programs than for computer games and other entertainment software.
(E) Instructions supplied on a computer disk can be designed to provide more extensive and more easily utilized cross-references than those provided by printed manuals.



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We need to find an answer which shows that printed manuals are better than computer ones in some significant aspect either for customers or the company..and if it can attack the one thing that companies are trying to achieve- cost reduction- then it would be the perfect answer!
A. If people are as comfortable using either, we cant differentiate
B. comparing computer manuals with their printed forms- we dont care about that! Note that it is not comparing the actual printed manuals (provided by the company) with computer manuals. Though even if it were, it is still saying computer ones are better.
D. Splitting the customer set doesnt help- we dont know who is the target customer of the company!
E. This infact says computer ones are better - opposite of what we are looking for
C. Correct option: It is clearly saying that printed manuals = less piracy = enormous profits!! which means that if computer manuals were used, companies will lose on this 'enormous profit' because piracy would become easy and presumable rampant. even if they do reduce cost, the benefit would get negated because of a larger decrease in profits.

My reason for writing "odd reasoning" was that we are talking about printed instruction manuals for the programs. How would printing the manual deter software piracy?? The software is as vulnerable as ever before no matter we have printed Instruction manuals or soft copies.
Hope am not missing on somethin too simple! :/
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Can anyone explain how piracy affects costs? I get that piracy affects profits, but doesn't the question literally state that the plan is to cut costs? I'm pretty sure I've seen similar questions that differentiate between costs and profits.